We frequently keep you updated on calls for submissions from other journals and institutions; but today, we’re very excited to announce that we are now accepting submissions to the English department’s very own Spring English Conference! This year, the Spring Conference will be held in conjunction with the annual MFA reading and the English awards ceremony, combining three of the department’s most important events. The Conference & Celebration will be held on May 16. It will also feature an alumni panel. Scroll down for more details!
What is the Spring English Conference?
The Spring English Conference is a time-honored tradition that originated in 2010 as the EGSA (English Graduate Student Association) Spring Conference. We have been very pleased to accept work from both graduate and undergraduate students over the years, expanding our annual conference into an event that all English students can participate in and attend.
(Click here view the list of Spring English Conferences from 2019 to 2024. To view conference materials older than 2019, please visit the Ex Libris Archive here.)
How to Submit Your Work:
We would love to consider your literary essays and creative writing pieces for the conference, where you will have the opportunity to present and discuss your work with audience members and fellow student panelists. Submission categories include:
- fiction and flash fiction
- dramatic literature
- creative nonfiction
- poetry
- literary criticism/analysis
- pedagogical and literary theory
Please submit your work to springenglishconference@gmail.com and include your name, area of concentration/major, genre, and length of piece. If your piece is literary theory or literary analysis, please include a brief abstract. (All applicants must be currently enrolled in the English program, either as majors or minors.) We welcome work from graduate (MALP & MAWP) and undergraduate students! The submission deadline is April 4, the first Friday of Spring Quarter.
Why Participate in the Spring English Conference?
DePaul’s Spring English Conference provides valuable experience for English students, preparing them for presenting their literary analyses in academic discussions or reading and discussing their creative work in front of an audience. Students will have the opportunity to share their scholarship and literary arguments, or their creative writing, with interested peers and professors (many of whom are published authors themselves). Presenting at the Spring Conference not only stands out on a CV/résumé but also is a great addition to the distinction profile of any student in DePaul’s English Distinction Program. Even beyond academic experience, participating in the conference builds confidence for presenting ideas in professional environments.
What Other Events Will Be At the Conference?
In addition to our conference panels for literary studies and creative writing, the annual MFA reading and English awards ceremony will also be held at our celebration, along with an alumni panel.
The MFA reading will celebrate MFA students in their final year of DePaul University’s graduate program in Creative Writing and Publishing. Student writers will each share work from their thesis, followed by a short Q&A.
The English awards ceremony will recognize the efforts of high-achieving English students, including (but not limited to) students who have completed the Distinction program, the 2025 Outstanding Senior award recipient, graduate assistants, and students awarded with Outstanding Academic Achievement. These students will receive certificates. (There will also be cake!)
Our alumni panel will feature several DePaul English alumni, who will discuss compelling career paths with students and offer valuable insights based on their own experiences in the fields of writing, teaching, and publishing. This will also be a fantastic networking opportunity for current students and alumni visiting the conference. (Stay tuned for more info on our panel speakers!)
Who Can Come to the Conference & Celebration?
As a celebration of DePaul English students, everyone is invited to attend this event! In addition to all DePaul students, we welcome family and friends, DePaul alumni, and prospective students who may be considering a degree in English at DePaul.
When Will the Conference & Celebration be Held?
The big day will be Friday, May 16, 2025! 
Questions?
Feel free to reach out! You can send any questions to springenglishconference@gmail.com, or email the editor of Ex Libris (contact info here).